SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SSB 5160

                As Passed Senate, March 9, 1999

 

Title:  An act relating to donating surplus computer equipment.

 

Brief Description:  Authorizing donations of surplus computer equipment to food banks.

 

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on State & Local Government (originally sponsored by Senators Oke and Winsley).

 

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  State & Local Government:  1/25/99, 2/8/99 [DPS].

Passed Senate, 3/9/99, 48-0.

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT

 

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5160 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Patterson, Chair; Gardner, Vice Chair; Haugen, Kline and McCaslin.

 

Staff:  Sharon Swanson (786-7445)

 

Background:  The Division of Purchasing of the Department of General Administration sells or exchanges, at public or private sales, surplus personal property belonging to state agencies or educational institutions.  Currently, the department is not allowed to donate state-owned surplus computer equipment to a local private or public nonprofit food bank program.

 

Summary of Bill:  The Division of Purchasing of the Department of General Administration must by September 1, 1999, develop a list of food banks requesting surplus computers or computer equipment.  The department is not responsible for soliciting informa­tion from food banks but is responsible for developing and maintaining the list as information is received.  The department must make the list available to state and local government agencies that have surplus computers they wish to donate to food banks.

 

Appropriation:  None.

 

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

 

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

 

Testimony For:  If the Department of General Administration (GA) is to administer donations as the original bill called for them to be administered, GA would lose money.  Please take donations out of GA and have agencies work directly with agencies.

 

Testimony Against:  None.

 

Testified:  Pat Kohler, Department of General Administration (neutral).